Commanders vs. Lions: Divisional Round Picks, Predictions for Saturday

The 2025 NFL Playoffs are in full swing as we start to nail down the true contenders for this year’s Super Bowl in the Divisional Round. To end the Saturday Playoff games, the Washington Commanders will take on the #1 seeded Detroit Lions. The Lions have been the most explosive team in football this year, so this game should be a high-scoring affair.

Below, we’ll give you the best Saturday Night Football picks and predictions for the Commanders vs. Lions game Saturday night in the NFC Divisional Round for NFL DFS and PrizePicks, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

PrizePicks is the easiest way to win real money on Saturday Playoff football. There are plenty of stat projections and players on PrizePicks — from Jared Goff’s passing yards to Jayden Daniels’ longest rush. Just pick more or less on at least two player stat projections to get paid.

it’s the easiest way to make money with your takes for the game.

‍

Saturday Divisional Round Picks: Commanders vs. Lions

Here are the top NFL Divisional Round Saturday Night Football picks for the Commanders vs. Lions game for NFL DFS on PrizePicks. 

• Divisional Round Preview, Where to Watch Commanders vs. Lions
• Commanders QB Jayden Daniels 1.5 Pass TDs (Demon)
• Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown 77.5 Receiving Yards — Less
• TD Scorer Prediction: Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Goblin)
• Saturday Night Football Prediction: Lions 34, Commanders 24

Commanders vs. Lions: Divisional Round Preview, Where to Watch

Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025

Time: 8 p.m. ET 

Location: Ford Field, Detroit, MI.

Where to Watch: FOX

This NFC Divisional Round matchup on Saturday night features the top seeded Detroit Lions (15-2) as they host the No. 6-seed Washington Commanders (12-5). These star-studded lineups will headline an explosive game as both offenses will be front and center in this matchup.

For the Commanders, they ride the momentum of their first playoff win in 20 years as they took down the Buccaneers in dramatic fashion, doinking the game winning field goal. Even if the Commanders lose this game, their future is bright with QB Jayden Daniels.

The Lions on the other hand seem to be in a Super Bowl or bust situation. They have dominated all year after losing in the NFC Championship last year, and managed to gain the first-round bye in the playoffs. This will be an opportunity for the Lions to prove why they are the favorites to make it to the big game.

Expect a high scoring game, with the Lions looking to manage time of possession with their dominant run game — with RB David Montgomery back from injury — and wild trick plays as Daniels looks to play catch up for most of the game.

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels 1.5 Pass TDs (Demon)

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels might be the most explosive playmaker in this game and the matchup aligns for him to cash this projection with ease. Daniels ranked 10th in passing touchdowns this season amongst all quarterbacks. He’s thrown for at least two touchdowns in six of his last seven games, including last week against the Bucs.

Combining Daniel’s playmaking abilities with the Lions’ defense, which allows the 30th most yards through the air, the Commanders should be able to throw it here. The Lions have also been depleted by injuries for most of the year, specifically in the secondary. 

Even with CB Terrion Arnold returning, look for them to target him early on to test his ankle and his ability to move.

Look for Daniels to maximize the opportunities in the passing game if he identifies zone coverage as he averages 78% completion percentage against zone.

‍

💰 Use Promo Code "Playbook": Get $50 instantly with your first $5 NFL Lineup

‍

Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown 77.5 Receiving Yards — Less

The matchup against the Commanders does not favor Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown or any of the Lions receivers. The Commanders ranked third in passing defense, allowing just 189.8 yards per game. Against the Buccaneers, who have a solidified passing game, the Commanders managed to allow less than their season average last week.

To make matters worse, St. Brown has only cashed this projection four times all season and in the Lions most recent matchup, he only managed 77 yards against the 28th-ranked passing defense. There are a lot of mouths to feed on this team, including WR Jameson Williams who has emerged this season when he’s on the field as a legit threat on the outside.

After Bucs WR Evans was able to put up 92 yards and a touchdown against Marshon Lattimore, I look for the Lions to try and exploit Williams’ matchup on the outside. Alongside the Lion’s rushing attack in a game they should control, it's even less likely that St. Brown cashes this projection.

TD Scorer Pick: Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Goblin)

The Lions have relied on the rushing attack all year between Gibbs and Montgomery in the backfield; the Lions rank 26th in pass play percentage, and 21st in pass rate over expectation. With Gibbs finding the end zone 13 out of 17 games this season, I see no reason as to why this weekend would be any different. 

In their recent matchup against the Vikings, Gibbs was a major focus of the offense with 28 touches and 170 total yards. Even though Montgomery is returning after being out with an MCL injury, they will slowly work him back into the offense. Gibbs should maintain the majority of the carries, especially at the goal line.

I look for the Lions to get out to a lead at some point this game as they have so many weapons on this offense that will overwhelm the Commanders defense. 

To make matters worse for the Commanders, they rank 29th in rushing defense, allowing 137.1 yards on the ground and a touchdown each game. Combining the Lions’ dominance with a struggling rush defense, this projection seems fairly easy to cash.

‍

Saturday Divisional Round Prediction: Lions 34, Commanders 24

This game should be electric and provide plenty of explosive plays to close out the Saturday NFL Playoff games. Expect Ford Field to be rocking on Saturday Night, to give the Lions a true home-field advantage here. The Lions’ dynamic run game mixed with their trick plays through the air could lead to some exciting moments on Saturday Night. 

Daniels’ dual threat ability will be the reason the Commanders should be in this for a majority of the game. The Commanders keeping this game close is going to fall mostly on Daniels’ back — a tall-task for a rookie QB on the road.

Ultimately, the well-rested Lions will wear down the Commanders and out-physical them. If the Lions’ defensive ends are able to contain Daniels in the pocket, it could prove to be Washington’s downfall. However, Daniels has an extreme ability to extend plays. Look for the Lions to control time of possession during this game, as they ranked second in the league this season with 32 minutes and 6 seconds average per game. 

Controlling possession will be the key for both teams, as the Lions will look to have drives that last 8-9 minutes long. If the Commanders want to win this game, their defensive line will have to take away Gibbs and force pressure on QB Jared Goff. Goff — although much-improved — is the weak link on this offense, so if they’re able to force multiple turnovers, Washington will have a fighting chance.

Although the Commanders are expected to lose this game, Daniels has left his mark on the NFL this season by leading four game-winning drives. An upset to possibly face a divisional rival for a chance at the Super Bowl would just add to a plethora of accomplishments for the rookie phenom.

Cash In on NFL Divisional Round Saturday Night Football

Saturday Night Football will be electric in the NFL Divisional Round, as both teams are looking to get to the NFC Championship. Daniels looks to overcome the NFC favorites this weekend in what could be a shootout, leaving you plenty of chances to cash in on PrizePicks.

Whether you’re boosting your payout with a Demon pick, or staying safe with a Goblin pick, there are plenty of ways to put your NFL takes into action with projections on the PrizePicks board.

Just pick more or less on two or more player projections, lock in your Lineup to win up to 1000x, and enjoy the game. The more players you pick, the more you stand to win on PrizePicks. Get in your NFL Divisional Round picks for Saturday Night Football before the 8 p.m. ET lock!